Prestwich 1XI finally secured their promotion spot in Premier 2 after Saturday’s 7 wicket win over Walshaw at Heys Road.
The month of August started with three consecutive defeats for James Wharmby’s side but last week’s 2 wicket win over Moorside coupled with yesterday’s success means the Firsts can no longer finish outside the top three promotion places.
Following the departure of Professional Nico Van Zyl back to South Africa, Prestwich called upon the services of Sub Pro Pramod Maduwantha to fill his considerable wicket-taking shoes.
He (4-31) and Andy Bradley (2-29) took care of the Walshaw middle order with a wicket each for Charlie Jackson and Ryan Maddock as the visitors were all out for 127.
Tom Gibson hit 700 runs for the season with his 46 after the early loss of Stuart Els. Maduwantha’s unbeaten 41 was accompanied by Wharmby’s 20 not out and Sam Kershaw’s 19 as Prestwich reached their target in the 31st over.
Promotion secured and the perfect tonic ahead of next weekend’s showpiece Lancashire KO Final.
• Walshaw 1XI 127ao (Maduwantha 4-31); Prestwich 1XI 128-3 (Gibson 46, Maduwantha 41*)
Sub Pro Pramod Maduwantha.
Prestwich 2XI made it 11 league wins on the spin with a convincing 7 wicket win over Heyside.
Uwais Khaliq and Adam Cheshire the main wicket takers as the home side were all out for just 48. Dylan Kane’s team completed their chase in just 7 overs for the loss of 3 wickets.
• Heyside 2XI 48ao (Khaliq 4-11, Cheshire 3-8); Prestwich 2XI 52-3 (Orrell 17, Bradley 16*)
On Sunday the Fourth Team game at home to Worsley Thirds lasted 21 overs before the heavy rain put paid to the contest with the visitors on 108-4 and the points shared.
Over at Roe Green, Prestwich 3XI dodged the worst of weather and recorded a 7 run DLS win after the home side lost 15 overs from the break in play.
Middle order half centuries from Thomas Orrell (61*) and Tom Ward (52) pushed Nick Carter’s team up to 197-5 after they stepped on the accelerator in the last ten overs.
An almost run a ball 73 from Green opener George Chapman kept this game on a knife edge after the resumption in play. But pairs of wickets for Carter, Orrell and Ariz Sajid, along with some great catches in the deep from Sam Staley and Orrell, left the home side just short of their revised 137 target and a vital 5 points in the bag for Prestwich.
• Prestwich 3XI 197-5 (Orrell 61*, Ward 52); Roe Green 3XI 129-7 (Carter 2-19, Orrell 2-29, Sajid 2-36) DLS
